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So that's what it looks like when I got it, same on both sides. Somebody had put in a new connection for the cable that couldn't be unscrewed (like the top one could) AND someone had put in those funky bracket things atop that - but the cable where it attaches to the gate itself looks like:

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So I thought ok I don't get it? All that work at the top & the bottom just comes right off. Weird. I'd think someone would rather cut the cable anyway - but my first truck and I'm not a stealing person so what do I know?

haha on me because after reading Pennymans post I looked for hinges for the tailgate and I'll be darned, there's 2 heavy duty ones, lol, wow. Ok. That explains why the tailgate was still on the truck when I bought it. THOUGH the seller DID say that it didn't have a tailgate on it when he bought it, he had put that one on himself. Hmm. It looks like it was painted over w/black primer so I'm somewhat tempted to look for a VIN on the tailgate itself and make sure it wasn't ever stolen. Something about bad karma, even accidental, bugs me.

I didn't know how common it was for tailgates to be stolen until after I got the truck & remembered about the neighbors truck and got worried enough to search the internet. (btw, my neighbor's truck's still for sale & I think they're still asking $1750, if anyone's interested I can take pics --- but I know nothing about the truck, just too expensive for me to plop down 1750 so I didn't even look closely/ask about it) I think it's a toyota tacoma or maybe navajo or something... black small, canopy, no tailgate.

I don't exactly trust myself enough to mess with fuel lines, but I LOVE the idea of the pager. Not so much for when the truck is home of course, the dog is a fantastic pager already even though she's still a puppy. I'd like any thief to at least have to make some noise to get it. Won't say what I'd do if I caught 'em, lol, but they would definitely be sorry they tried.

Will have to look at a shut off for the electronic fuel pump (hoping I have one -- just not that far in to the truck yet). Going to fill it with oil today & see if she's still leaking from anywhere. Hoping to add her to the insurance policy today :D